Medicine in

the Middle Ages

Unfortunately
The Middle Ages,for the
476people
AD until
alive
1453,
during
wasthat
nottime,
a great
medicine
time to was
be alive,
worse than
especially
it had beenifduring
you gotthesick!
timePeople
of the were
Romanonly
Empire.
expected
It was
to live
based
to around
about 30a years
old and one
mixture of supernatural
in five children
superstitions,
died beforeherbal
they remedies,
turned one.bleeding
Many people
and purging.
died
from simple injuries like cuts or broken limbs and women often died during
childbirth. Diseases were also a major killer along with leprosy and smallpox.
Medieval Doctors
Medicine in
and the Treatments They
the Middle Ages
Administered

Because
Medieval
During ofdoctors
the lack
plagues and of
had understanding
epidemics,
little aboutofwhat
ideapeople whatcaused
would causeddisease.
blame the illness,
witches Many the
or groups
believed
who in
treatments
the theory
were that
culturally
of doctors
The
different administered
Four Humours
for causing were
developed
the not
byalways
illness. Some successful
Galen, believed at treating
a Greek doctor
that thewho
illness
the patient
lived
was aduring atthe
all,Roman
punishment and
sentsome
by treatments
Empire.
the Gods actually
Theortheory made
that itstated
was due the
that problem
toillness
the wasworse.
alignment
caused
of the
by
Treatments
an imbalance
planets. included:
of the four humours - phlegm, black bile, yellow bile and blood.
Many doctors believed that people's health, and the treatment they received,
was linked to the position of the stars.
Trepanning

Cutting a hole in the person’s skull.

Bleeding

Cutting the patient and letting them bleed.

Applying Leeches
Vomit or Diarrhea

Giving the patient something to make them vomit or give them diarrhea.
Herbs

Giving them bunches of herbs to smell.

Herbs

Mixtures of various herbs.

Baths

Making the patient take very hot or cold baths.

Praying
Smoke

Sitting in a smoky room.

Whip

Whipping the person.

Medieval Doctors
and the Treatments They
Administered

Although all these treatments are no longer used by modern

medicine, the practice of using certain herbs was effective and is
still used today.
Medieval Doctors
Medieval
and the Treatments They
Surgery
Administered

During the middle ages, there were many conflicts and the
resulting wars gave doctors a chance to work on their surgical
skills. These doctors made a few discoveries that proved to be
major steps forward for medicine. They discovered the following:

Wine could be used as a mild Surgery could be used for closing up

antiseptic. wounds to help them heal.

Drugs, such as opium, could be used

Broken bones could be reset.
as painkillers.
Medieval
Public
Health Care
Surgery
Monasteries
Major effortsset
to up hospitals
improve to take of
sanitation care of the
cities poor.
were Unfortunately,
initiated, includingpeople
ensuring
who were often
that water verywere
supplies ill were
kept not allowed
clean, rubbishinto thesewage
and hospital as they
were were scared
removed, and
that
foodthe
wasillness would
inspected to spread to other
make sure that patients. Many
it was safe towns had
for people good
to consume.
quarantine laws. The houses of plague victims were boarded up and they
were isolated from others.
Public
The Black Death
Health Care
Almost everyone
Towards the end ofwho
thecontracted
Middle agesthe(between
plague died.
1347Their
to 1351),
symptoms
the bubonic
included
plague, also
fatigue, highknown
temperatures,
as the Black
strange
Death,
swellings
spread
andthrough
difficulty
North
breathing.
Africa, Europe
Doctors
andthat
at Asia.
time The
didplague
not understand
originatedthe
ondisease
black rats
andthat
were hadnottravelled
successful
to Europe
in treating
on
ships.
it. TheItcommon
passed quickly
range offrom
treatments
the ratsincluded;
to peoplecarrying
who often herbs
lived
with
in cramped
you,
conditions.
praying, purging
It wasand
mainly
bloodletting.
spread through
It is estimated
flea bitesthat
(fleas
between
from 50theand
rats)200
but
could also
million people
be transferred
died from through coughs and sneezes.
the plague.